Favourite Black Comedies?

[BloatedGuppy]

It can be a bit hard to find these days, but Happiness is probably the best Black Comedy I've ever seen. Be warned though...it's heavy on the "black" part of that equation. Not for the faint of heart.

Opening scene for your perusal:


And another with the incomparable Philip Seymour Hoffman:


And from a different film, also a good black comedy...Your Friends and Neighbours:

 

[AlexanderPeregrine]

Some recommendations:

Some of his films have been mentioned, but everything written by Quentin Tarantino is worth watching. Even when they don't work as a whole (Jackie Brown is usually mentioned as his weakest film), they're still witty and funny.
Even though they're quoted way too much by uncreative people to the point of irritation, Monty Python is consistently great. My personal favorite is Life of Brian.
If you're fine with really sadistic, brutal violence taken to hilarious extremes, I recommend Magical Witch Punie-chan [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bludgeoning_Angel_Dokuro-Chan].

 

[Gitty101]

Does Evil Dead 2 count? Cause' that was pretty horrific and hilarious at the same time. Great popcorn movie.

 

[Loonyyy]

Trainspotting-Ewan McGregor, heroin, and absolutely no shame.
Black Books-Not quite so black as the title, but a brilliant series.
Catch-22-Again, not quite black, this is more absurdist, but it's absurdist tendencies go to dark places, and it's a great film.
And Ed130 beat me to it, but Four Lions. It's like if the three stooges were terrorists, but also likeable, and not crap. It's hilarious, heart-wrenching and horrifying. Be warned though, if you're not used to British accents, understanding British-Muslims becomes that much harder. Watching this while drunk is a bad idea.

 

[Henkie36]

snip

Let me know what you thought.

 

[Timothy Tucker]

Very Bad Things
Just a monumentally savage black comedy both in terms of escalation and humour.
Otherwise, no black comedy favourite list is complete without a mention of the Coen Brothers.

 

[Flatfrog]

It can be a bit hard to find these days, but Happiness is probably the best Black Comedy I've ever seen. Be warned though...it's heavy on the "black" part of that equation. Not for the faint of heart.

I found it a bit too much - Welcome to the Dollhouse was more accessible. Having said that, I did think it was great, and gave it to my Mum to watch - unfortunately she didn't realise it was quite as bleak as it was and sat down to watch it for a New Years Day bit of fun.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I found it a bit too much - Welcome to the Dollhouse was more accessible. Having said that, I did think it was great, and gave it to my Mum to watch - unfortunately she didn't realise it was quite as bleak as it was and sat down to watch it for a New Years Day bit of fun.

Yeah, as I said...pretty heavy on the "black" side of the equation. It's not every movie that tries to milk laughs out of pedophilia, for instance.

Still...I found it pretty hilarious in parts. Possibly catharsis from the all the horror and misery.

Solondz hasn't really done anything worth talking about since. It's like he fell right off the map.

 

[jdogtwodolla]

The only Black Comedy I've actually seen at this point would be Tucker and Dale vs Evil. That was a pretty enjoyable movie.

It's a good thing I read other posters before I finished my first thought because I actually thought you meant black culture comedy.

 

[SckizoBoy]

My point? Go see Lord of War.

See... I never really considered Lord of War to be a comedy of any sort. It was a true to life drama about the weapon smuggling trade, in which the only kind of humour you can have is caustic humour.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a damned good film, probably Nick Cage's best, but not really a comedy... :/

My point? Go see Lord of War.

You sold me! I got to see this ASAP!

Before you watch it through though... just watch the opening sequence, come back to us... then watch the rest of it.

I contend that that film's opening sequence is one of the most evocative ever made. And the track that goes with it just takes the cake! -_-

OT: Not really that big a fan of black comedies... though Dr Strangelove... no surprise there.

 

[Zombie Sodomy]

Ok, I completely misinterpreted your question. I was going to say anything with Dave Chappelle, but since you're apparently talking about dark comedies I'd suggest Fargo. That's if you really want dark, in my opinion anyways. Loonyyy mentioned Trainspotting and while I've never really thought of it as that much of a comedy, I'd definitely suggest watching it.

 

[saintdane05]

Anything done by George Carlin.
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And I think that A Clockwork Orange is a black comedy
(May be NSFW)
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[gorfias]

My point? Go see Lord of War.

See... I never really considered Lord of War to be a comedy of any sort. It was a true to life drama about the weapon smuggling trade, in which the only kind of humour you can have is caustic humour.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a damned good film, probably Nick Cage's best, but not really a comedy... :/

My point? Go see Lord of War.

You sold me! I got to see this ASAP!

Before you watch it through though... just watch the opening sequence, come back to us... then watch the rest of it.

I contend that that film's opening sequence is one of the most evocative ever made. And the track that goes with it just takes the cake! -_-

OT: Not really that big a fan of black comedies... though Dr Strangelove... no surprise there.

Thanks for the 2nd opinion! I'll likely have to get it on DVD from Netflix. Severance, recommended by another above is streaming on Netflix. So far (my boy was scared, I only saw 1/2 so far... I'll watch the rest later) it's pretty good. Worth a look. The absurdity of it and situation are interesting to me.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

A Serious Man is a pretty good dark comedy, definitely one of my favorites...

Spoiler

Matchstick Men is a great dark comedy and possibly the best Nic Cage film.

Spoiler

Wild at Heart is a pretty dark affair to, although it might be more surrealist comedy...

Spoiler

And no list would be complete without the single greatest dark comedy ever: Seven Psychopaths...

Spoiler

 

[gorfias]

My vote for best black comedy has to go to Severance

Good movie. It is on Netflix streaming. I liked Deadly Snow (2009) better. Very much the same kind of humor, but I'm glad you pointed me in the direction of Severance. It was easily worth a watch.

 

[bigwon]

I found the tv series Louie (Louis C.K's Show) to be a favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC4FnfNKwUo

 

[Salvius]

You want dark comedy? Let me introduce you to Little Murders.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Heathers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2OPV6iuk2o

And anything by Terry Gilliam: Brasil, Fear & Loathing...anything.

 

[Azurian]

Did no one else enjoy Death to Smoochy but me I thought it was pretty dang funny I think it was Robin Williams funniest movies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URj1lQ-D8v8

 

[Spikethebloody]

My vote for best black comedy has to go to Severance

Good movie. It is on Netflix streaming. I liked Deadly Snow (2009) better. Very much the same kind of humor, but I'm glad you pointed me in the direction of Severance. It was easily worth a watch.

Yeah,Dead snow is really good as-well, although the ending kind of sucked.